Harry Potter Author Accused Of Plagiarism

The successful author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, has been added to the 2004 suit against her British publisher Bloomsbury, which states that Rowling stole ideas from another publication.

They claim that "Harry Potter And the Goblet of Fire," or as us females know it as, "the movie that Robert Pattinson was in," was stolen from a 1987 children's novel called "The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No. 1 Livid Land," by Adrian Jacobs.

According to EOnline, Rowling states, "the fact is I had never heard of the author or the book before the first accusation by those connected to the author's estate in 2004; I have certainly never read the book."

She adds, "the claims that are made are not only unfounded but absurd and I am disappointed that I, and my U.K. publisher Bloomsbury, are put in a position to have to defend ourselves."

Harry Potter prequel up for auction

'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling wrote an 800-word long prequel to her bestselling seven-book series - and it's up for bids tonight at a charity auction in London.

"Given the enormous interest we have seen in recent times for autograph work by J.K. Rowling, the prospects for her story card are good to say the least," said Philip Errington of Sotheby's auction house, which is running the sale. "There is just no telling how high the bidding might go."

The cards are part of the "What's Your Story? auction at Waterstone's Booksellers Ltd. flagship store. Proceeds benefit English PEN, the writers' association and Britain's Dyslexia Action. Copies of the cards will then be made into a book available in the central London store and online in August.

Waterstone's said they distributed 13 of the postcard-sized papers to authors and illustrators, including Rowling, novelist Margaret Atwood, Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing and playwright Tom Stoppard.

Rowling hand wrote her prequel on the front and back of the card, but event organizers refused to comment on the contents.


UPDATE: The prequel sold Tuesday night for $49,323, or approximately $59 per word.

Rowling named Entertainer of the Year

J.K. Rowling was named Entertainment Weekly's entertainer of the year.

The Harry Potter author was lauded for getting "people to tote around her big, old-fashioned printed-on-paper books as if they were the hottest new entertainment devices on the planet."

In categories reminiscent of high school, other entertainers were honored as top prodigies, class clowns, most popular, most buzzed-about and valedictorians.

Actor, director and activist George Clooney was named valedictorian for "deftly balanced box-office viability with personal responsibility." Other winners in the category were Angelina Jolie, Will Smith and the cast of "The Sopranos."

Most popular were Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, Katherine Heigl, Carrie Underwood and Kanye West.

Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Shia LaBeouf and Rihanna were named prodigies.

"30 Rock" creator Tina Fey was honored as a class clown, as were director Judd Apatow and his actor pals Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan. Also named class clowns were "The Simpsons" and Vanessa Williams of "Ugly Betty."

Most buzz-worthy were Gerard Butler, Tyler Perry, Amy Winehouse and the A&E series "Mad Men."

Albus Dumbledore is Gay

J.K. Rowling. author of the fantasy series, Harry Potter,
gave fans quite a surprise on Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall. After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members.

She was asked by one young fan whether headmaster Albus Dumbledore finds "true love."
"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

J.K. Rowling back at it?

Here's possible good news for those going through Harry Potter withdrawal:

Author J.K. Rowling has been spotted writing a detective novel in cafes in Scotland, according to one British newspaper. Rowling famously worked on the beloved Harry Potter books in Edinburgh cafes to save on heating bills before the series took off and she became an international phenomenon.

Rowling confirmed she plans to continue writing in an interview with the Associated Press last month.

"I'll do exactly what I did with Harry - I'll write what I really want to write," Rowling said.

No word yet on if these rumors have been substantiated and if/when eager readers can expect a new book.

J.K. Rowling calls end of popular series 'bittersweet'

This weekend I curled up and read the last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I've followed Harry and his friends from the start, and while it was great watching them grow and mature, and of course take on Voldemort, it's sad knowing the series has come to a close.

Author J.K. Rowling said the end was bittersweet. She has spent nearly two decades crafting the extraordinarily complex tales.

She called the time immediately after the completion of the novel the hardest. "The first two days were terrible. I was incredibly low," Rowling said. "I think what is probably hard for people to imagine is how wrapped up the 17 years' work is with what was going on in my life at the time. So it all merges into one."

The book sold a record 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours in the U.S. market. It has been warmly received by critics and fans.

For those of you who've read the book: what did you think of the end? Were you satisfied? Did you have any unanswered questions? Did anything surprise you?